Wire connector



June 1, 1954 v p LANFEAR 2,680,145

WIRE CONNECTOR Filed July 10, 1951 2 Sheeis-Shee't l llllllllllllllll I 92 INVENTOR.

JOSEPH P LANFEAR 1% BY fl ig 11 52 ATTO June 1954 J. P. LANFEAR 2,680,145

WIRE CONNECTOR Filed July 10, 1951 iljfil. a7 a o 1 7/ 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. O 5 JOSEPH P. LANFEAR- g.

13 /38 I I 10 0 BY I ATTORNEY Patented June 1, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WIRE CONNECTOR Joseph P. Lanfear, Jackson Heights, N. Y.

Application July 10, 1951, Serial No. 235,999

Claims. 1

This invention relates to a wire connector, that is to say, to a device for mechanically engaging an end of one or more wires. The term "wire as used herein is generic to solid, stranded, braided and knitted metal thread, regardless of its diameter and regardless of the presence or absence of a conductive or non-conductive sheath or sheathes. The invention further pertains to a tool for manipulating one form of such a connector.

By way of example, the invention will be described herein with respect to an electrical, i. e. an electromechanical, connector and a non-electrical, i. e. a purely mechanical, connector. However it is to be understood that these specific forms of the invention only are to be considered as illustrative and the invention is not to be deemed as limited thereby, except as and to the extent to which features of such embodiments are pointed out below and are incorporated in the appended claims.

It is an object of my invention to provide a wire connector which will efiect an unusually secure mechanical joint.

More specifically it is an object of my invention to provide a wire connector which will speedily and easily form plural, tightly engaged, sharp bends in an end of a wire.

It is another object of my invention to provide a wire electrical connector which, even under adverse conditions such as utter darkness, snow or rain, vibration, high winds, extreme cold, and the inability to use the fingers individually, can effect a secure electrical connection of one or more ends of light gauge wire, e. g. telephone wire or light power wire, in a few seconds.

It is another object of my invention to provide a wire electrical connector wherein the electrical connection is fully insulated and waterproof.

It is another object of my invention to provide a wire electrical connector which can be manipulated to effect the electrical connection of one or more ends of wire by the application of external force directly to but a single element of the connector.

It is another object of my invention to provide a wire electrical connector which, although desirably manipulatable with the aid of a special tool, in an emergency can be operated by any 'wieldable heavy object such as a hammer or rock.

It is another object of my invention to provide a wire electrical connector which is foolproof and simple to use so that even mechanically unskilled persons or persons without formal school- 2 ing have no difficulty in efliciently making an electrical connection therewith.

It is another object of my invention to provide a wire electrical connector which is rugged and comprises but relatively few and simple parts.

It is another object of my invention to provide a unique tool for manipulating my novel wire electrical connector.

It is another object of my invention to provide a tool of the character described which does not require the use of individual fingers so that it can be operated by a person wearing mittens.

It is another object of my invention to provide a single tool of the character described which will both effect the electrical connection and seal the insulation.

It is another object of my invention to provide a tool of the character described having independent elements for effecting the electrical connection and for sealing the insulation.

It is another object of my invention to provide a single tool of the character described which requires manipulation of different parts for efiecting the electrical connection and for sealing the insulation, these parts being such that they cannot be manipulated simultaneously and that the movement of each part to its fully operated posiiton causes a markedly noticeable change in condition of the tool, whereby a person using the tool cannot inadvertently fail to make the connection and seal the insulation.

Other objects of my invention will in part be obvious and in part will be pointed out herein after.

My invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which are shown various possible embodiments of my invention,

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective View of a wire electrical connector constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of said connector ready for use;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of said connector and a manipulating tool therefor, the same being shown in open position;

Fig. t is a side, partly broken away, view of said connector and tool, the same being shown after the tool has been operated to close the connector;

Fig. 5 is aside, partly broken away, view of said connector and tool, the same being shown after the tool has been operated to close the connector and seal the insulation;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional View taken substantially along the line 66 of Fig. 3, and showing a, longitudinal sectional View through the connector in open position;

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing the connector closed;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showin the connector closed and the insulation sealed;

Fig. 9 is a bottom view of the connector with its insulation removed;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line Hil [l of Fig. 6;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line H--M of Fig. '7;

Fig. 12 is a sectional .view taken substantially along the line l2l2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 13 is a side, partially broken away view of a non-electrical connector embodying a modified form of my invention.

Essentially a connector embodying my invention comprises a block having two intersecting openings oriented at a substantial angle, e. g. a right angle, to one another. At least one of the openings terminates at a face of the block to admit an end of a wire. The other opening rotatably accommodates a plug which turns about an axis at a substantial angle to the longitudinal axis of the wire admitting opening. The plug has a transverse opening which is in registry with the wire admitting opening in one position of the plug and which is disaligned with said wire admitting opening when the plug is turned from said one position. The surface of the plug and the mating surface of the plug-accommodating opening in the block are formed to mutually de fine a passageway extending from the opening in the plug when the plug is turned from its said one position, said passageway snugly receiving a wire on the external surface of the plug when the connector is closed. The connector further includes means to turn the plug, said means being of such construction that, where more than one plug is employed, more than one plug can be turned simultaneously by operation of said means.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1-12, the reference numeral 29 denotes a wire electrical connector embodying my invention, and the reference numeral 22 a special tool for manipulating said connector.

The connector includes an elongated block 24 which, like all the other parts of the connector except the insulation, desirably is made of metal. An axial bore 26 runs inwardly from one end of the block terminating at a closed bottom 28 near the longitudinal center of the block. A similar bore 39 is provided at the other end of the block, the two bores preferably being in alignment and their bottoms 28, 32 being near one another. To facilitate insertion of a wire end in the bores, the ends of the block are dished to converge on the mouths of the bores.

Each bore is crossed by a cylindrical opening 34, 36 which extends from front to back of the block and is at right angles to the bore. Preferably the longitudinal axis of each bore intersects the longitudinal axis of its associated opening and the openings are parallel to one another.

Rotata-ble in each opening is a plug 38, 150. Since the plugs are mirror images of one another, only one plug will be described in detail and the same reference numerals will be used for both plugs. Each plug is cylindrical and snugly fits in its associated opening, its ends being substantially flush with the front and back of the block. The plug is formed with a through transverse aperture 42 which is at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the plug and which rotates with the plug in a plane including the associated bore 2%, 30 so that in a certain angular position of the plug, hereinafter referred to as the inoperative position, the aperture 32 is in alignment with and for-ms a straight line connection between the two portions of a bore 26, 30 interrupted by the opening B l, 35 in which the plug is disposed.

The opposite end edges of the plug are fashioned to provide gear teeth A l. These teeth need cover only a fraction of the end periphery of the plug, up to 180 being sufficient. The teeth extend axially inwardly from the end of the plug for but a short distance, enough to form flanks on the teeth of appropriate breadth to mesh with other gear teeth soon to be described.

An annular groove :18 is formed on the surface of the plug in a plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the plug and including the longitudinal axis of the aperture :22. An arcuate transverse slot 48 is formed on the surface of each opening 3 3, 3%, said slot and the groove 35 defining a passageway for the reception of a wire inserted in the connector. The slot 48 starts from the point where the entry end of the transverse aperture 42 joins the bore 28, 30 when the plug is in inoperative position. Said slot extends in the direction the plug is turned from inoperative to operative position, and the slot terminates at a point spaced from its starting point by any selected angle substantially short of l0 in order to leave a bearing surface for the plug. In the preferred form of my invention the slot covers an arc of slightly less than The slot and groove are of appropriate cross-section to mutually form a passageway in which the wire to be connected is tightly engaged. For example the groove may be of semicircular transverse cross-sectional shape and the radius of the slot and depth of the groove equal to one another and substantially equal to the radius of the inserted wire.

A second arcuate transverse slot 56 is formed on the surface of each opening 36. Said slot, like the slot 38, with the annular groove 26 defines a passageway for the reception of a wire inserted in the connector. The slot 56 starts from the point where the exit end of the transverse aperture 62 joins the bore 2t, 3!! when the plug is in inoperative position. The direction of extension, shape and dimensions of the slot Eli are the same as those of the slot 43.

The plug is provided with a step 52 on its cylindrical surface, the radial surface of the step facing in a direction opposite to that in which the ping moves when turning from inoperative to operative position. For convenience, the step adjacent the exit end of the aperture :32.

To turn the plugs I provide a bridge 54 of U-shaped transverse cross-section comprising a base and a pair of parallel legs 36. Said bridge straddles the block 2:, with the legs 58, 8!] located at the front and back, respectively, of the block. in transverse shallow broad grooves 52. The width of the grooves is equal to the length of the legs, the depth of the grooves is equal to the thickness of the legs, and the space between the bottom of the grooves is equal to the space between the inner surfaces of the legs so that the bridge is guided for slidable move-,-

ment in an up-and-down direction on the block. The ends of the legs are shaped to form rack gears 64 of proper contour to mesh with the plug teeth 44 and the plug openings 34, 36 are so positioned that the rack gears will engage said teeth. The bridge prevents the plugs from shifting axially.

In the inoperative position of the connector (Fig. 6) the bridge is in raised position, ready to be shifted downwardly for turning both plugs to operative position (Fig. 7). The top of the block is provided with a transverse shallow broad groove 66 for accommodating the base 55 of the bridge when the latter is fully depressed. The bridge is normally held in its raised inoperative position by wings 68 extending angularly downward from and integral with the ends of the base of the bridge. The lines of junction between the wings and bridge are weakened as by scoring I0 for a purpose which later will be apparent. In the inoperative position of the bridge the tips of the wings rest on the top of the block (Fig. 6)

The under surface of the base of the bridge carries a pair of pendant piercing tines I2 in alignment with vertical holes I4 that extend downwardly from the top of the block and transect the bores 26, 30 between their bottoms and the openings 34, 36. The times are sufficiently long to extend well into the bores or even cross the same when the bridge is in operative position (Fig. 7).

The bottom of the block is fashioned with an elongated shallow longitudinal groove I6 whose opposite ends run into the openings 34, 36. A leaf spring I8 is seated on the base of said groove. The end portions 80 of said spring are arcuately indented downwardly to clear wires lying in the annular grooves of the plugs. The tips 32 of the spring ride on the cylindrical surfaces of the plugs. The spring is so positioned that in the idle position of the connector the tips 82 are forced downwardly, bowing the ends of the spring away from the base of the groove I5. When the plugs reach operative position in the fully depressed position of the bridge the steps 52 will just have cleared the tips of the springs (Fig. '7) which thereupon will have snapped up to prevent reverse movement of the plugs and thereby lock the plugs in operative position.

Lateral projections 84 at the sides of the spring are received in notches 86 on the bottom of the block, the sides of the notches being staked, as at 81, to hold the spring in place.

To prevent wires from accidentally slipping out of the axial bores while the plugs still are in inoperative position, a short bowed leaf spring 88 is associated with each bore. Each spring is forced into a slot 89 running parallel to the associated bore. The slot intersects the bore chordwise near its periphery and the convex side of the spring protrudes into the bore to lightly frictionally engage a wire inserted into the connector.

The elongated block, together with its plugs and bridge are sheathed in an open-ended tube 90 of impermeable flexible material, e. g. rubber, whose ends extend beyond the ends of the block. It may be noted that, in addition to its waterproofing and insulation functions, the tube serves to prevent disengagement of the bridge from the block. The tube may include constricted necks 92 adjacent its ends. Encircling the tube adjacent its ends, e. g. in th necks, ar annular bands 84 of soft metal, e. g. a lead-tin alloy, that, conveniently, are held in position by an interconnecting strap 96. The bands and necks are sufficiently large to permit a wire end freely to be inserted there, through and into the axial bores 26, 30 of the block.

To use the connector, the ends of wires W simply are thrust all the way into the bores 26, 30, the bridge '56 depressed and the bands 94 crimped, the last step being omitted if the connector is not to be waterproofed. Fully depressing th bridge turns the plugs to operative position (Fig. '7) in which two sharp bends are formed in th wire and portions of the wire are tightly engaged between the annular groove 46 and the arcuate slots 41, 50, the plugs being locked by the springs I8 and step 52 in operativ position. As the bridge reaches operative position, the wings 68 shear off at the score "Ill and the tines I2 pierce the conductive core of the wire even should the same be in an insulating cover. Where the cores are solid the ends of the covers preferably are stripped and the tines omitted.

Although the particular kinematic train shown and described in detail for turning the plugs upon shifting of a single member is highly desirable because of its compactness, ease of manufacture and low cost, it will be understood that any other suitable kinematic train, e. g. slotted cranks on the plugs and a translatable pin and rod engaging said cranks, may be substituted in its stead. It also is noted that where but a single wire is to be engaged and therefore, only one plug employed, such plug can be turned by a gear sector rotatable on the block.

Closing Of the illustrated connector is expedited by the tool 22, Said tool includes an anvil jaw 98 and a clinching jaw Iilil pivoted on a shaft I02 and integral with handles I84, I06, respectively. A restoring spring (not shown) urges the handles apart. The anvil jaw is shaped to receive the bottom of the connector and the clinching jaw is shaped to engage the base of the bridge. Squeezing the handles I04, I06 together depresses the bridge,

One of the clinching handles, e. g. the handle I06 mounts a pair of spaced resilient fingers m8 Whose facing surfaces define a slot Ilil having a narrow tip I I2 adjoining the upper end of a broad section H4. The lower end of this section runs into an opening I I6 that is joined to the section by a narrow passageway I I8. The surfaces I28 of the passageway adjacent the section are angularly divergent. The other handle mounts a pin I22 which rides in the slot H0. When the handles are in inoperative position the pin I22 is adjacent the narrow tip of the slot. As the handles approach operative position the pin engages the divergent surfaces I23 to cam the fingers apart and permit entry of the pin into the opening Ht when operative position is reached. Release of manual pressure on the handles does not allow the handles to be moved apart by the restoring spring since retractive movement of the pin is blocked by the narrow passageway H8.

The tool 22 further includes two pair of crimping jaws I24, I26 located beyond opposite ends of the anvil jaws in proper spaced position to engage the bands 94. Said laws are formed with interleavable sturdy fins having mating V -notches I28 which will constrict the band when the jaws are closed in operative position (Figs. 5 and 8). The lower jaw I24 constitutes one arm of a bell crank lever I30 and the upper jaw I26 one arm of a bell crank lever I32. The, two levers are pivoted on a pin I34 mounted on the anvil jaw enemies 96. The other arms I36, I38 of the levers are pivoted to one set of ends of a pair of links I40, I42 whose other set of ends are pivoted on a pin Md secured to the forward end of a crimping handle I46 that turns about a shaft I48 attached to the anvil handl I 04. A restoring spring (not shown) urges the crimping handle I46 to its inoperative position (Figs. 3 and l) After the bridge is depressed, the handles I06, I46 are squeezed together thereby closing the crimping jaws. As said handles reach operative position a chisel projection I49 on the handle I46 enters the tip H2 of the slot H and spreads the fingers I08 to release the pin I22 and permit the handles I0 1, I06 to fly apart.

It will be observed that the handles I06, I46 are spaced apart too far in inoperative position to be squeezed together inadvertently and the undersurface of the handle I04 is of an uncomfortable shape so that a user of the tool will naturally first squeeze together the handles I04, I06 and only thereafter the handles I06, I46. Moreover since the handles I64, I06 will fly apart unless moved to operative position and will not separate after complete operation unless the handles H06, H38 thereafter are moved to operative position, closure and sealing of the connector in proper order are assured except as the same may be deliberately avoided.

The connector i510 illustrated in Fig. 13 is essentially similar to the connector except for the omission of th insulating tube 90, tines I2, spring '58 and bands 64, and the provision of a modified means for moving the bridge and detaining the same in operative position. Said connector I56 is designed to provide a purely me chanical wire joint and, therefore, is more sturdily built. Parts similar to those of the connector 26 have been indicated by the same reference numerals primed. The bas 56' of the bridge 54' is formed with a central through opening 52 to rotatably pass the threaded shank I54 of a headed bolt I56 which meshes with a tapped bore H58 in the block 24. A collar I60 pinned or otherwise secured to the bolt against axial movement beneath the bridge captively holds the bridge to the bolt so that the connector is moved between inoperative and operative positions by turning th bolt. Since the threaded shank inhcrently is a one-direction kinematic train, it Will function to detain the bridge in operative position when shifted thereto.

It thus will be seen that I have provided devices which achieve the several objects of my invention and. are well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matters herein described, or shown in the accompanying drawings, are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A wire electrical connector comprising an elongated block, a pair of cores extending inwardly from opposite ends of said block, a different opening crossing each bore intermediate the ends thereof, a plug revolvable in each opening, each plug having a through transverse aperture in registry with the associated bore in one position of the plug and disaligned with said bore when the plug is revolved away from said one position, the surface of each plug and the mating surface of the associated opening being formed to define arouate wire-receiving passage ways extending from the ends of the aperture to the ends of the bore at theopening when the plug is revolved from said one position, a single actuating element, means to mount said element for sh table movement on said block, a kinematic train interconnecting said element with both plugs to revolve said plugs upon movement of said element, a flexible impermeable sleeve ensheathing said block and projecting beyond both ends thereof, and malleable metal bands encircling projecting ends.

2. A wire electrical connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein the actuating element and kinematic train comprises a bridge slidably enibracing the block and provided with rack gear teeth, and gear teeth on the plugs meshing with the rack gear teeth.

3. A wire electrical connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein the bridge has piercing tines and the block; is formed with holes registered with the tines and transecting the bores.

i. A wire electrical connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein each plug includes a notch, and wherein a leaf spring is mounted on the block with its tips engageable in the notches when the plugs are revolved to a predetermined position from their one position.

5. A wire electrical connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein the actuating element protrudes from the block when the plugs are in their one position, and wherein readily deformable means is included to hold the actuating element in its protruding position.

References Cited in the file of thi patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 464,942 McKenney Dec. 8, 1891 868,460 LHoest et al Oct. 15, 1907 1,336,290 Finklestein Apr. 6, 1920 1,382,753 Tefft June 28, 1921 2,086,400 Brenizer July 6, 1937 2,359,083 Carlson Sept. 26, 1944 2,435,562 Swengel Feb. 3, 1948 2,553,341 Stonehill May 14, 1951 

